All smiles: Balotelli (centre) jokes with James Milner (right) and Micah Richards (left)

Sadly the Santa story appeared to be another wild rumour about the mad-cap Italian, who insisted he was in the team hotel at the time.

But there was no mistaking Balotelli when he handed out presents to football-mad 11 and 12-year-olds from Mellands Specialist School in Gorton.

The youngsters also got to lift the Premier League trophy and got changed in the first team dressing room.

City slickers: The football-mad youngsters got to meet their heroes

After being met by the regular tour guides the children bumped into defender Micah Richards as they got out of the lift on the way to the Press Conference room and then heard their names read out on the team sheet left by Roberto Mancini.

They then met another England star, midfielder James Milner, who had the silverware with him before the party entered the inner sanctum of the home dressing room where shirts bearing their names were hanging on the pegs used by the City superstars.

Watch the video

The surprises didn't end there though as Santa Balotelli popped in to distribute presents and then the whole afternoon concluded with a penalty shoot-out against England No 1 Joe Hart and photos all around.

'It was great to see the joy on the kids' faces,' said Richards. 'They were so excited. The plan was to make the day as memorable as possible for them and I am sure they enjoyed it. As players you don't often get the chance to interact like that.

'It was all for the young children,' added Balotelli. 'They really appreciated meeting all the players and we appreciated meeting them too. I hope we made their day and gave them an afternoon they will never forget. We all enjoyed it.'